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PikaBlue

(361 posts)

15. This device caught 2 cheaters

Tue Jul 1, 2025, 04:50 PM

Jul 1

Back in the 1970s I was teaching at a university. The mid-term exam was one sheet of paper which provided a list of short essay questions. Students wrote their names on the exam sheets and used exam "blue books" in which they wrote their answers. After mimeographing enough copies of the exam questions the day before the test, I secretly numbered each exam question sheet in faint pencil. I counted each exam sheet the next day before heading in to distribute the exam and noticed two sheets were missing. I made an additional two copies of the questions. Prior to administering the test, I used a paper cutter to shave off about one half inch of paper from the top and from the bottom of all the test questions sheets. I asked the students to remain in the classroom until everyone completed their exams. Once the blue books and exam questions sheets were collected, I simply stood the stack of exam questions on end and tapped them level. It was easy to identify the two exams which were stolen because they were 1 inch shorter than the rest and the students' names were written on them.

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ProfessorGAC True Dough

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Do you remember this in your classroom? [View all] True Dough Jul 1 OP

And they made the best squeaking noise, and kachunk! Biophilic Jul 1 #1

In my public school it was in the art supply room so we grammer applegrove Jul 1 #2

Yes , I had one as a student and as a teacher. I also had one to do my crafts at home Did I ever let a child use it--NO debm55 Jul 1 #3

We have one of these in my husband's hobby workshop. 3catwoman3 Jul 1 #4

I LOVED the sound of it cutting the paper! Tadpole Raisin Jul 1 #5

Yes beemerphill Jul 1 #6

I don't recall one in the classroom, but I got to play with one in my aunt and uncle's office supply store. rsdsharp Jul 1 #7

Anyone remember this? sop Jul 1 #8

That one is new to me True Dough Jul 1 #9

I used one once at the Buster Brown store to measure my feet. debm55 Jul 1 #10

Just Missed Using One ProfessorGAC Jul 1 #17

I've been looking for a good used one JoseBalow Jul 1 #11

I have two of them in my basement! progressoid Jul 1 #12

I still have one in my craft room, The one at school stayed there as it was school property. debm55 Jul 1 #13

My big one came from a military auction. progressoid Jul 1 #14

This device caught 2 cheaters PikaBlue Jul 1 #15

Clever! True Dough Jul 1 #20

We Didn't Have One In The Classroom ProfessorGAC Jul 1 #16

Was the teacher's note True Dough Jul 1 #19

Maybe ProfessorGAC Jul 1 #21

Yes, we did. Thank you Professor GAC. debm55 Jul 1 #23

Yep. sinkingfeeling Jul 1 #18

You Bet! justaprogressive Jul 1 #22